UMass defense adjusting to new staff, scheme as preseason football camp rolls on

Don TreegerUMass defensive tackle Hafis Williams, who transferred from Notre Dame, runs through a drill on the first day of practice on Friday.

AMHERST — There are plenty of questions surrounding the UMass football team. Can they compete in the Mid-American Conference? Will anyone show up to Gillette Stadium? How will the team adapt to first-year head coach Charley Molnar’s fast-paced no-huddle offense? How will Molnar replace over 90 percent of his receiving and rushing yards, both gone to graduation?

But there’s one question that might have slipped through the cracks: How is a defense that was just average in the FCS in 2011 going to stop anyone in the FBS in 2012?

The numbers from 2011 aren’t promising: 74th in the FCS in scoring defense (27.91 points per game), 64th in yards allowed (365.45 yards per game), 87th in third-down defense (opponents converted 41.67 percent of third downs) and 56th in turnovers forced (21 in 11 games).

Defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian, cornerbacks coach Jeff Burris, safeties coach Ted Dalsher and defensive line coach Dave Sollazzo are charged with readying the defense, which returns eight starters from last season, for the new level of competition.

The defensive staff is converting the Minutemen back to a 4-3 (last season the team ran a 3-4 under Kevin Morris), but while that might be the most obvious change, Sollazzo said that it wasn’t the biggest challenge the team is facing early in camp.

“The biggest challenge for them is that we’re playing at a very fast pace,” Sollazzo said. “The biggest transition for those guys is the way we’re practicing.”

Molnar’s new high-octane offense has meant more plays in practice for the defense.

“With our style of offensive attack, the number of reps those guys are getting in a ten minute period or 15 minute period, those guys are getting so much more work then they were used to getting,” Molnar said.

That isn’t all either. Getting a new coaching staff for a football team can often be like learning a new language — the defense under Morris’ staff was speaking French to Molnar’s staff’s Spanish.

“The new terminology. You get so used to making the same calls with certain coverages … you’ve got to make sure you don’t revert back to the old coverages,” senior safety Darren Thellen said.

Sollazzo echoed Thellen’s sentiments.

“Up front, they have to learn my vocabulary,” Sollazzo said. “Which isn’t easy to do because I don’t always speak the best vocabulary.”

Of course, the switch from three down linemen to four has had some effect. Defensive tackle Chaz Thompson may be the one who most welcomes the change, since he spent most of last year being double-teamed by opposing offensive lines.

“I work better when I’m taking on more single teams,” Thompson said. “As a team, I think we’re more cohesive, with more blitzes and better coverages.”

From a secondary standpoint, Thellen said the switch to the 4-3 means more opportunities for him and the other safeties to be near the line of scrimmage and make plays against the run.

“I think the safeties play a big part in stopping the run, which is exciting because it gives you more of a chance to make plays, and that’s what every player wants to do,” he said.

Thompson believes that despite last year’s numbers, this defensive unit has what it takes to succeed in just about any alignment, and no matter what other people (or video game companies) say.

“We see in the NCAA game where it says we’re not going to win any games. We just take that as motivation, and we’re just going to build on that,” he said. “We know we’re good.”

PAGEL SITS AGAIN

Starting quarterback Kellen Pagel was at practice, but did not partake in any drills, according to Molnar.

Molnar once again declined to characterize the nature of Pagel’s injury, but did say that the quarterback was scheduled to see a doctor Monday afternoon and was hoping to return to practice Tuesday.

“He’d go out there and practice right now if he could,” Molnar said. “It’s not really a big deal to me because Mike Wegzyn needs all the work he can get. The backups, the other guys that have been in the program need the work and A.J. Doyle needs the work, so they’re benefitting from Pagel’s absence.”

NEWCOMERS MENTIONED

Molnar pointed out two freshmen wide receivers that have impressed him over the first few days of camp during his post-practice interview — Tajae Sharp out of Piscataway, N.J. and Dalvin Battle out Fort Myers, Fla.

“(They) are both picking up the offense fairly well,” Molnar said when asked about his freshman class. “They catch the ball and have very good speed.”

Molnar said before camp started that he expected not to redshirt most of his freshmen, especially at a position like wide receiver, where it’s been well publicized (in this publication, and others) that the Minutemen’s leading returning receiver, Marken Michel, had three catches in 2011.

FULL PADS TUESDAY

The Minutemen had shoulder pads and shorts on for the second consecutive day Monday, but will make the switch to full pads beginning with Tuesday’s practice.

The NCAA mandates how quickly teams may move to shoulder pads and full pads through rules it calls the “Acclimatization Period.”

Under these rules, teams may wear shoulder pads beginning on day three of practice and full pads beginning on day five. In addition, teams are limited to one practice per day and one walkthrough without gear. There must be a three-hour gap in between the practice and the walkthrough.